April 7, 2016
The Builders Association of North Central Florida is hosting the Spring Parade of Homes, where they will be previewing two new subdivisions and 25 new homes in 13 communities throughout Alachua County. The event will take place this Saturday and Sunday, April 9 and 10, as well as Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17, from noon to 6 p.m.
The homes will showcase popular design trends, including, but not limited to, outdoor recreation spaces and natural interior finishes. Homes that debuted at last year’s parade will be in the mix, including six homes by three different builders in Oakmont and two homes by two builders in Finley Woods. A large amenity center will be opening this Spring in Oakmont, as well.
Just south of Haile Plantation, the Lugano mixed-use development will be showcased, which has plans for 460 new homes. It will be a traditional neighborhood offering a community clubhouse with a full-time director, pool, fitness center, tennis courts and basketball courts.
Fletcher Oaks is also new to the lineup, and features a 55-lot rare new housing development within the Gainesville city limits just off of Glen Springs Road. Homes here are not completed, but builders will be on site to offer information to visitors.
Overall, builders are having a hard time keeping up with the demand for new homes. Prices for new homes have gone up, but they are not as high as the demand. Plus, increasing costs are making it harder for developers to make as much money as they used to. In order for builders to meet buyers demands for more space while maximizing development space, i.e. land, it is becoming increasingly popular for builders to be showing two-story models on smaller lots. Buyers are after more square footage, but they also want to be as cost-efficient as possible.
However, not all homes featured on the Spring Parade are large, as many will be in the 1,700-2,000 sqaure-foot range.
For more details on the parade of homes and more, check out the article at gainesville.com.
